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The Blind Manufacturers’ Association of Australia is the industry organisation representing the professional window covering industry in Australia. We represent our members’ interests through advocacy to government, as well as promotion of our industry.
Recently, the BMAA participated in SpecTex, an event organised by our SuperExpo partners the Specialised Textiles Association. SpecTex was held in Sydney over the weekend, with the BMAA presentations being held on 1st August.
Firstly, Chris Nolan, the Nolan Group, provided members with valuable information on the issues faced by our industry following changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) with respect to fire ratings. The exemption clause that applied to awnings and blinds relating to fire regulations in the NCC was deleted, which means that technically any blind or awning fitted to any building upper floor of Class 2 – 9 buildings does not comply. The fire engineer who was engaged by BMAA to perform three full-scale AS 5113 fire tests for typical awning and exterior blind products was also in attendance at the seminar and provided an update of the current situation.
The second presentation was in relation to WincovER, the star-rating program that compares the energy performance of window coverings and outdoor shades. Robert Mayer, BMAA Director, explained where BMAA is currently at with the WincovER program. In addition, he ran through the Welcome to WincovER online training which would shortly be available to participants in the program.
Steve Quirk, Frontline Group, updated the meeting on the latest developments in training. BMAA and the Frontline Group have been in collaboration since 2016 to successfully develop and implement training specific to the blinds, awnings and shutter industry. This relationship was formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in 2017 and later the development of a five-year National Industry Training Plan 2017-2022 : Blinds, Awnings, Shutters. During the past five years, there have been notable achievements such as the Australian Blind Industry Training and Employment Initiative.
Regarding SuperExpo 2023, Kathryn Polgar, Chair of the SuperExpo Committee, said that the first face-to-face meeting of the Committee had been held on 31st March 2022 and a second meeting was held via Zoom on 7th July 2022. There would be an opportunity for members to take up sponsorship – one Platinum sponsor as well as Gold and Silver sponsors. There would be no limit to the number of Gold and Silver sponsors.
All BMAA and STA members would be contacted via an email newsletter on Monday 8th August advising that the launch of SuperExpo would take place on Friday 12th August, when all members would receive an Application to Exhibit, with copy of the floor plan, booth rates and sponsorship information. The sponsors’ floor space would firstly be allocated, and once this is finalised, all other stand applications for BMAA/STA members would be processed. Any leftover stands would then be offered to the wider industry and non-members.
After the huge success of our three previous events in 2013, 2016 and 2019, SuperExpo 2023 is shaping up to be a bigger and better version in what will undoubtedly be Australia’s largest trade exhibition for the window furnishings and specialised textiles industries.
